The documents comprising the Design Guide SPD Part 2 has been drafted to support for homeowners, developers, landowners and decision makers in making and deciding planning applications.The Design Guide SPD Part 2 replaces the Design and Development Control Guidelines SPD, Crayford Residential Design Code, Crayford Town Centre, Design and Identity Guide and Sustainable Design and Construction SPD. 

Design Guide SPD Part 2 - Building Alterations and Extensions (PDF)*

Design Guide SPD Part 2 - Area Types (PDF)*

Design Guide SPD Part 2 - Small Sites (PDF)*

Design Guide SPD Part 2 - Technical Handbook (PDF)*

*These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format

Printed copies of the Design Guide SPD Part 2 documents will be made available in all borough libraries and the Contact Centre in the Bexley Civic Offices.

Design Guide SPD Part 2 - Consultation Statement

Go to Consultation Statement

You can also download:

• Consultation Statement (PDF)

Design Guide SPD Part 2 - Statement of Adoption

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended), Regulation 12(a), The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012

Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) Part 2 - Adoption Statement

The Design Guide SPD Part 2 is a Supplementary Planning Document that supports the statutory Development Plan for the borough.
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires that a local planning authority shall not adopt a Supplementary Planning Document until they have:

a) considered any representations made during the consultation period; and

b) prepared a statement setting out a summary of the main issues raised in these representations and how these main issues have been addressed in the Supplementary Planning Document that they intend to adopt

The documents comprising the Design Guide SPD Part 2 (Building Alterations and Extensions, Small Sites, Area Types and Technical Handbook) have now been through a six-week public consultation period, which ended on 12th April 2026. The document was consulted on widely, with over 1000 individuals and businesses on the Strategic Planning database contacted by post and email ahead of the statutory consultation period. During the consultation period, copies of the SPD were available at Borough libraries, and in the Contact Centre within Bexley Civic Offices. The document was made available on the Council’s Ask Bexley survey platform, providing access to PDF documents for review and several survey questions posed to assess the clarity and effectiveness of the guidance document. Three drop-in consultation sessions were held at Erith, Sidcup and Bexleyheath libraries, providing an opportunity for Officers to answer attendee queries on aspects of the document. A summary of the Council’s responses to representations and comments received can be found in the Consultation Statement that accompanies the adopted SPD.

The Design Guide SPD Part 2 has been amended to address the main issues raised from the representations made during the statutory consultation period. Changes to the SPD following consultation have been considered against the Local Plan sustainability objectives and it is considered that the screening opinion prepared to accompany the consultation draft is still relevant.

Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) Adoption Statement for: Design Guide SPD Part 2

c) The Design Guide SPD Part 2 is a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) that complements the statutory Development Plan for the Borough. Bexley Council adopted this SPD on 29 June 2026

d) any person aggrieved by this SPD may apply to the High Court for permission to apply for judicial review of the decision to adopt this SPD

e) any such application for leave must be made promptly and in any event not later than 3 months after the date on which this SPD was adopted

You can also download:

• Statement of Adoption (PDF)

Design Guide SPD Part 2 - Equality Impact Assessment

1. Service affected

Planning policy.

2. Relevance to equality

You need to make clear if the policy/function is highly relevant, relevant or not relevant to equality. To determine relevance to equality you need to complete the ‘Checklist for determining relevance to equality’

Please detail which groups are most affected.

This project is relevant to equality as it is aimed at the development and provision of buildings and spaces across the borough. As a result, the guidance is particularly relevant to the protected groups of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment and race.
The guidance also impacts the aim of advancing equality of opportunity as it has aims to promote better wellbeing outcomes and sustainability as well as being a reference tool to provide clarity on the development aims of the borough.

3. Potential savings

Please detail the proposed savings to budget that you are hoping to make.

How will this be achieved?

The guidance does not propose savings to budgets.

4. Policy/service proposal

You will need to detail the following:

• please provide a profile of the service including its purpose, how and where the service is delivered and who uses it
• what are the specific changes that you are proposing and what will these changes deliver?
• are these proposals just linked to savings or is there a solid business case for this? Please detail
• how will this change support our wider objectives such as the Corporate Plan or directorate business plans?

Both national and regional planning policy place a clear emphasis on good design and the role of Local Authorities in determining what this looks like for their area. The council is required by The National Planning Policy Framework (2023) to prepare design guides or codes to provide clarity about design expectations at an early stage (Para. 133). To carry weight in decision making, these codes should be produced as Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) (Para.134). This guidance should be prepared to be consistent with the principles set out in the National Design Guide reflecting local character and local design preferences, providing a framework for creating high-quality places.
The Bexley Local Plan was adopted in 2023, and together with the London Plan, comprises the statutory Development Plan for the borough. Part 1 of the Design Guide SPD (DGSPD), the Design Principles, was adopted in January 2025 and expands on the broader themes set out in the Development Plans and will provide more detailed guidance as to how statutory policies should be applied within the Bexley context.

Part 2 of the Design Guide comprises four documents – Building Alterations and Extensions, Small Sites, Area Types and the Technical Handbook. These documents have been produced to provide further, more detailed and specific guidance for certain types of development common across the Borough. This guidance has been drafted to ensure development is coordinated and reinforces the local distinctiveness of Bexley, discouraging generic development that does not complement the borough’s context or the needs of current and future residents. The health and well-being of all people lie at the heart of the documents, with a desire to ensure that new development proposals are accessible and inclusive to all.

The design guidance is produced to assist applicants, landowners, designers, decision makers and the wider community who are proposing and determining new development across Bexley.

In summary:

• this guidance will complement the recently adopted DGSPD Part 1 – Design Principles and will also replace several outdated Bexley planning guidance documents. As the guidance has been written to support the Bexley Local Plan adopted in 2023, it will provide renewed, and more relevant, information across a range of topics to aid people proposing and determining new development in the borough
• within each document, guidance is organised into different chapters which are further broken down into several sections, setting out the Council’s ongoing vision for growth. Each document will be available as an accessible PDF document that will be downloadable from the Council’s website and therefore available to a wide range of people – from applicants to householders, designers and decisionmakers. It will support a range of wider Council objectives around good growth, high quality design, sustainability and the protection of the environment. As with the Design Principles guidance, an online, HTML version of the document will also be provided following adoption
• the guidance will support our Bexley Plan 2022-26, which is our vision for the borough, in particular supporting priority 1: aspiration for our residents and priority 2: ambition for our borough
• the design guidance will also support the Bexley Local Plan policies, providing further, more detailed information on what good design means in Bexley using both written and visual tools to illustrate the guidance

5. Impact on equalities groups

Please detail the likely impact of your proposals on each equality group including service users and potential service users, supported by demographic evidence.

The equality groups are:

• age
• disability
• sex
• gender reassignment
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sexual orientation
• marriage and civil partnership (but only for aim one of the duty)

You will need to consider these impacts in relation to the duties detailed under the Public Sector Equality Duty. What evidence do you currently have about who uses this service, how important is this service to each equality group and the likely impact of your proposals on each equalities group?

You will be expected to use demographic information to show the composition of the service users in each of the equality groups. If we do not have such information, please state the group and that no information is currently recorded.

What demographic data is missing and how would you be able to fill this gap?

Demographic Data for Bexley

There is national, regional, and local evidence available which shows that people with certain protected characteristics can face barriers in employment, access to services and information.

The 2021 Census (ward profiles available on the council website), and equality related evidence from the Bexley Data Observatory have been used in this assessment.

The Bexley Data Observatory identifies 'the big picture' in terms of health and wellbeing needs and inequalities of a local population and informs future service planning, taking into account evidence of effectiveness.
There is potential for the guidance to have direct and indirect positive impacts for all protected groups by setting out to provide guidance that allows the Council to ensure that ongoing development in Bexley is both sustainable and accessible to all.

6. Supporting evidence about why a change is required?

What is the context to the proposed change in policy/function? Please concisely describe the relevant background/context as to why the change is being proposed. For example, is there national guidance that promotes the change? Best practice? Credible independent research about the outcome being sought? Financial situation of the service/Council?

Is this proposal likely to be subject to a public consultation with service users and potential service users? Please state when consultation is/was carried out and give overview (including whom consulted; different methods used to make sure relevant people asked; issues raised by people and action taken on any of these issues – did we change anything in relation to the consultation feedback?)

Following the adoption of the Bexley Local Plan in April 2023, detailed design guidance that expands on the themes set out in the Local Plan, is required by the National Policy Planning Framework.

Consultation with key stakeholders has shaped the development of the guidance. A range of consultees were engaged at various stages on key sections of the document relevant to their expertise. For example, workshops with Development Management officers offered insights into householder development and common issues arising in planning applications allowing these topics to be disseminated and explored further within the Building Alterations and Extensions document. Workshops and desktop reviews were also conducted with members of Bexley’s Design Review Panel, exploring topics for inclusion across four identified common and emerging types of development in Bexley. Following these workshops, all topics discussed were tracked, considered for their appropriateness to the document’s aims and included within the guidance where relevant.

Internal consultation within the Council was conducted ahead of the draft publication of the Design Guide SPD Part 2, which included this EqIA. This consultation was circulated to those whose services support people with protected characteristics to ensure the widest possible views were duly considered.

The statutory consultation period took place from 2nd March - 12th April 2026 comprising online and printed publication of the draft guidance for comment from all members of the public. For the duration of the consultation period printed copies were available in all 13 borough libraries and one copy was held in the Bexley Civic Office’s Contact Centre. During the consultation period, digital copies of the four documents were available alongside an online survey on the Council’s Ask Bexley platform. The online survey sought feedback on the effectiveness, relevance and robustness of the guidance document through several questions. Three drop-in events were held at Erith, Sidcup and Bexleyheath libraries, allowing individuals to discuss the Design Guide SPD Part 2 with Officers. This provided an alternative forum to online and written feedback and was dispersed throughout the borough for accessibility.

Over the course of the statutory consultation period, comments were received from statutory bodies, including TfL, Historic England and Natural England. Via the Ask Bexley platform, the Council also received responses from Bexley residents and those with interests in the borough. All comments received were analysed and considered and where appropriate, amendments to the guidance documents were proposed.
A final draft of the Design Guide SPD Part 2 has been prepared for adoption and reflects the comments received and resultant amendments made following public consultation. These comments and proposed amendments have been collated and summarised within the Consultation Statement.

7. Possible mitigating actions

Please detail how any potential negative impacts for each equalities groups could reasonably be addressed?
If possible, please indicate what you think the likely cost of mitigation would be.

Potential impacts for all equality groups are reasonably addressed in the guidance by ensuring that all applicants consider the impact of their development proposals for all:

Age – most relevant to the Technical Handbook, Area Types and the section on non-residential uses in Building Alterations and Extensions. In the Technical Handbook, a chapter dedicated to play space provision states the importance of public spaces that support the health and wellbeing of all people through incidental play features, seating, and exercise equipment. The guidance supports the development of community-focused public space that can provide a range social and cultural offerings for all ages. The Area Types guidance chapter on public realm, town and neighbourhood centres advocates for the design of places and spaces that are inclusive, open, and welcoming to all demographics. Building Alterations and Extensions speaks to the importance of level, step-free access being provided to non-residential spaces to avoid excluding users with reduced mobility.

Disability – most relevant to the Technical Handbook, Area Types and the section on non-residential uses in Building Alterations and Extensions. The latter and Area Types provides guidance on the design of access to commercial spaces being designed to eliminate physical barriers and minimising visual clutter to reduce potential sensory overload for those with neurodivergences and hidden disabilities. The Technical Handbook promotes the design of play features that is accessible to all with suitable features for children with impaired mobility, and the design for hidden disabilities such as autism by making spaces legible and looking for opportunities to create quieter spaces.

Sex – most relevant to the Technical Handbook and Area Types documents where the guidance places an emphasis on the importance of designing welcoming and inclusive public space for all – with a specific focus on public space, including play space, being attractive to young women and girls by avoiding the exclusive provision of facilities that are typically dominated by young boys.

Gender Reassignment – in promoting the design of welcoming and inclusive space, where relevant the guidance encourages applicants to follow the Mayor of London guidance on Safety in Public Space for Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse People.

Pregnancy and Maternity – the Area Types and commercial Alterations and Extensions guidance promotes public spaces that support the health and wellbeing of all users, suggesting the provision of incidental seating and welcoming areas, with a specific focus throughout on guidance on making space welcoming to women, girls and gender diverse people. The latter promotes the inclusion of level, step-free access that can enable easier navigation for those with a pram.

Race – The Area Types guidance requires developers to put in place a maintenance plan for public space that complies with the Public London Charter principles. Principles within this charter state the need for public space to “enable users to meet, associate, spend time with others and celebrate their community. It should make provision for community-led and cultural activities that reflect the diversity of London’s communities, as well as public art and other ways of celebrating diversity in the public realm.”

Religion and Belief – The Public London Charter principles are robust in their promotion of public space being welcoming and open to all and having a community focus, designed to reflect the diversity of communities and celebrating this publicly through programming and art, for example. 

Sexual Orientation - The Public London Charter also promotes staff in new public buildings and spaces being given “appropriate training with an emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion so that all people feel welcome,” which is necessary for people to feel supported, comfortable and welcoming in new developments.

You can also download:

• Equality Impact Assessment (PDF)

Design Guide SPD Part 2 - Sustainability Appraisal Screening Statement

Screening Statement on the determination of the need for Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal for the Bexley Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document Part 2.

Findings

The purpose of this screening statement is to assess whether the Bexley Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document should be subject a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) or Sustainability Appraisal (SA).
Based on the findings of this screening statement, and the views of relevant statutory consultation bodies, the Council has concluded that neither a SEA nor a SA is necessary for the Bexley Design Guide SPD Part 2.
In accordance with Sections 9 and 11 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004, the Council consulted with the specified environmental organisations (Natural England, Historic England and the Environment Agency) before determining whether the SPD is likely to have significant environmental effects.
In accordance with Section 9(3) of the Regulations 2004, as the screening statement concludes that the implementation of the SPD will be unlikely to have significant environmental effects and therefore not require a SEA, the statement includes the reasons for this determination. The Council has taken into account the criteria specified in Schedule 1 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 and the results of the assessment can be found in Tables 1 and 2 below.

Introduction

Sustainability Appraisal is the process of ensuring that a plan or policy contributes to sustainable development. Sustainability Appraisals incorporate the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment. Sustainability Appraisal ensures that potential environmental effects are given full consideration alongside social and economic issues.
Strategic Environmental Assessment alone can be required in some limited situations where Sustainability Appraisal is not needed. This is usually where Supplementary Planning Documents could have significant environmental effects.

Legislative Background

The Planning Act 2008 amended section 19(5) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. As a result, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) no longer have to prepare a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) report for their Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs). The reason for this is that it involved duplication, since SPDs have to be in conformity with an overarching Development Plan Document which had already been the subject of SA.

The Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 enacted section 180 of the Planning Act 2008, removing this blanket requirement for SA. However, the explanatory memorandum advises that LPAs will still need to screen their SPDs to ensure that legal requirements for SA are met where there are impacts that have not been covered in the appraisal of the parent DPD (Local Plan) or where an assessment is required by the SEA Directive.

The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and SA planning practice guidance paragraph 008 confirms that SPDs do not require a SA but may in exceptional circumstances require a SEA. SEA is unlikely to be required, unless it is considered that there are likely to be significant environmental effects.

Before deciding whether significant environment effects are likely, the LPA will need to consider the criteria specified in schedule 1 to the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 and consult the consultation bodies. This initial assessment process is commonly referred to as a ‘screening’ assessment, and the requirements are set out in regulation 9 of the 2004 Regulations. The results of this process must be summarised in an SEA screening statement, which must be publicly available.

Under Regulation 9(3), if the council determines that a plan or programme is unlikely to have significant environmental effects, an SEA will not be required. The Council will however need to prepare a statement of its reasons for the determination.

Local Plan

Preparation of the Bexley Local Plan was informed by an Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA), which incorporated SA and SEA requirements. The Bexley Local Plan IIA Post Adoption Statement provides further details. The Design Guide SPD builds upon and provides more detailed advice and guidance on policies in the Bexley Local Plan.

Design Guide SPD Part 2

Bexley’s Local Plan sets out the fundamental role of high-quality design in achieving sustainable development. National and regional policy place a clear emphasis on good design and the role of Local Authorities in determining what this looks like for their area. The Design Guide seeks to build upon the Design Guide SPD Part 1 – Design Principles, by further defining and illustrating what good design means across both common and emerging typologies in the borough. As with the Design Guide SPD Part 1 – Design Principles, the guidance has been drafted to support three objectives:

• be more Bexley: The Council encourages development that reinforces local distinctiveness and discourages generic designs that do not complement the surroundings
• promote good design: Good design leads to better wellbeing outcomes and a more sustainable form of development
• provide clarity: The Guide is intended as a useful reference tool to reduce uncertainty for applicants looking to develop a site, thereby increasing the quality of submissions and reducing delay at the application stage

The production of this document has followed best practice and has been informed by a robust local evidence base. The Guide is intended to aid the planning process, so it is primarily for:

• applicants and their design teams in the preparation for pre-application discussions and planning submission
• decision-makers when considering whether to grant or refuse planning applications
• people in local communities and their representatives to assess proposals in their area

The guidance provided in this document will be supplementary to the Bexley Local Plan policies. It demonstrates ways to meet these policies using illustrations and codes. Where relevant, specific policies are highlighted in the text for ease of reference. However, it is assumed that all guidance is provided to help applicants meet requirements set out in the Local Plan.

The Design Guide is additional, borough specific guidance for Bexley. It should be read in conjunction with national and regional design guidance on placemaking, such as the National Design Guide and the London Plan.

You can also download:

• Sustainability Appraisal Screening Statement (PDF)

The Design Guide SPD Part 1 – Design Principles (adopted January 2025) provides overarching design guidance for all new development across the borough.

This guidance provides design guidance for decision makers, applicants, and the local community and replaces the Design for Living SPD.

Read the Design the Guide SPD Part 1 - Design Principles

You can also download:

• Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document - Part 1 (PDF)*
• Design Principles Statutory Consultation Report (PDF)*
• Adoption Statement (PDF)*
• Equality Impact Assessment (PDF)*
• Screening Statement on the determination of the need for Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal (PDF)*

Printed copies of the Design Guide SPD Part 1 – Design Principles, are available in all borough libraries and the Contact Centre in the Bexley Civic Offices.

*These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format

The Erith Western Gateway Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (adopted 5 January 2012) guides prospective partners on acceptable uses and design expectations. 

• Erith Western Gateway - SPD adopted January 2012 (PDF)*

* This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format

The Planning Obligations Guidance SPD (adopted 26 July 2008) explains what the Council will seek in planning agreements with developers to ensure contributions to providing local services and facilities. 

• LDF - Planning obligations guidance - adopted July 2008 (PDF)*

* This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format

The Sustainable Drainage Design and Evaluation Guide links the design of SuDS with the evaluation requirements of planning. 

• Sustainable Drainage Design and Evaluation Guide*

* This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format

The Town Centres Strategy was adopted by the Council in July 2019. It sets out how Bexley’s town centres can continue to successfully meet the needs of local people, visitors and businesses. The Strategy provides a framework for the development and management of Bexley’s town centres over the next five years, to help guide the activity of the Council and its key partners in enhancing their vibrancy and economic success. It is focused on the five larger town centres: Bexleyheath, Crayford, Erith, Sidcup and Welling. These are home to the most jobs and are also the most vulnerable to trends involving national retailers. The key themes for action included in the Strategy are:

• Supporting businesses and encouraging inward investment
• Facilitating adaptation to the digital economy
• Building a more diverse and safe evening and night-time economy
• Marketing our town centres as unique places
• Enhancing public realm and place-making
• Diversifying the retail and leisure offer
• Enhancing accessibility and wayfinding
• Encouraging more quality events, markets and meanwhile uses

Read the Bexley Town Centres Strategy 2019 to 2024 (PDF)*.

For more information on the Strategy and how it is being implemented please contact towncentres@bexley.gov.uk

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The Bexleyheath Night Vision and Improvement Development Framework (adopted February 2010) provides a comprehensive and up-to-date framework to identify, facilitate and manage development opportunities.

• Bexleyheath Development and Improvement Framework February 2010 (PDF)*
• Bexleyheath NightVision - February 2010 (PDF)*
• Revitalising Bexleyheath town centre (PDF)*

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The Crayford Strategy and Action Plan (adopted July 2005) details development proposals and projects to promote environmental, cultural and economic improvements to regenerate a sustainable town centre.

• Crayford Strategy and Action Plan (PDF)*
• Crayford Town Centre, A Residential Design Code (PDF)*
• Crayford Town Centre, Design and Identity Guide (PDF)*
• Crayford Strategy and Action Plan - Maps 1 to 18 (PDF)*

* These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format